I'm perplexed by the Republican strategy of running "attack" ads filled with uplifting, flattering images of Obama. Karl Rove's "celebrity" ad is a greatest-hits reel of coolness. This one features valiant warriors and a commander-in-chief taking ultimate responsibility for a risky operation that could have led to reprisals. I doubt anyone's mind will be changed by such ads. Maybe the idea is to rile up the people who hate Obama already?

Yeah, come to think of it, it's hard to imagine some originally neutral party who first applauded the decision to go after Bin Laden but then, on being reminded the president took credit for the call, reconsidered. But if the idea was to rile up people who hate Obama already, ad creator Veterans for a Strong America could probably have saved their money and just re-read Dreams From My Father. That seems to be working elsewhere.

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